Guest Post: Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds - Yoga for Women

Enjoy this guest post from Carolyn of Full-On Fit!

In the mass array of celebrity exercise and diet trends, women are often bombarded by images that focus on a "stylized” version of fitness rather than a holistic embodiment of health. For women, finding an exercise practice that not only allows for them to develop strength, cardiovascular conditioning and overall body wellness can be confusing and overwhelming. However, adapting a safe yoga practice can ease women out of the chaos of trend and towards a journey of self-confidence and physical fitness.

On the whole, enabling women to learn to see themselves as both physically strong and mentally centered can provide a level of fitness that is often overlooked by various trends found in more traditional forms of exercise. Yoga provides women with an opportunity to clear a quiet space for themselves and adapt their bodies to the natural flow of movement, which in turn grants the participant an array of benefits. The flexibility training and posture progressions that yoga affords can assist with an increase in joint range of motion and musculoskeletal plasticity as well as relief from stiff joints and certain effects that come with conditions such as arthritis and tendonitis. According to St. Joseph’s Hospital, Americans are nearly 100% likely to have an episode of knee pain at least once in their lifetime. Continued and devoted practice also helps to develop the core strength needed to support a healthy back and stable spine. Focus and attention on body alignment, increasing flexibility, endurance and keeping the mind uncluttered, all aid in providing a sustainable and enjoying yoga practice.

For women, it is vitally important that any exercise journey not focus on what needs to be “fixed” with the body, but rather what the body and the mind are capable of achieving if conditioned properly. With yoga, women are able to fully engage themselves in a practice that focuses on holistic health, not a shortcut to superior fitness. Such a practice forces the participant to slow themselves down, concentrate on both one’s internal and external strengths and channel such qualities into their everyday lives to help reduce stress and filter anxiety.

All too often women are “quarantined’ to the areas of a gym that include “women friendly” equipment and all too often because of this environment, women miss the fundamentals of exercise to improve health. A yoga practice can offer women an outlet that is both relaxed, self-paced and that provides the opportunity to focus on both the mind and the body’s progression in a well-rounded approach to fitness. For most women, finding the time to exercise is a constant battle. However, with the increased demand for more and more yoga-centered facilities, women have access to a wide array of venues to begin their practice. As with any new exercise program, it is vital that one is aware of their limitations, has done their research and sets realistic goals.

Carolyn Fallon is a 20-something year old with a passion for life, fitness and overall well being. She is an avid cycler, golfer and has been known to bust some serious moves on the dance floor. Check out Carolyn’s blog at http://fullonfit.blogspot.com!

Yoga Improves Quality of Life for Cancer Patients

This is a guest post from Jillian McKee, a complementary care
advocate for the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance.

Many people find that yoga is good for helping with flexibility and centered thoughts. However, recent studies by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners have found many benefits to this ancient technique for cancer patients. The studies examined the use of yoga relieving symptoms such as insomnia, pain and fatigue from mesothelioma cancer therapy.

Before beginning yoga, cancer patients should talk with their oncologist for recommendations. Some positions associated with yoga might place a strain on joints and ligaments, having detrimental effects on cancer patients. Once the oncologist clears patients, they can begin yoga.

Cancer patients who participated in various studies have reported numerous benefits to yoga improving their quality of life. Cancer treatments such as radiation or chemotherapy can negatively affect a person’s well being while fighting the growth of cancer cells. Many of these effects include insomnia, pain, fatigue, and loss of appetite, stress and anxiety.

Yoga might help cancer patients who suffer from insomnia to relax and get a good night’s sleep. For some patients, yoga can also decrease the pain caused by some cancer treatments. Typically, patients also take pain medications and experience a marked improvement when combined with yoga.

Another way that mesothelioma life expectancy and quality of life improves through yoga is the decrease in fatigue, giving patients more energy to enjoy other things. Some patients experience a loss of appetite after a cancer diagnosis; however, yoga can help to relax the mind and restore the appetite.

A cancer diagnosis and subsequent treatments can cause stress for many patients. Practicing yoga helps to reduce the stress levels many people experience. Studies have shown stress is reduced on two levels. Clinically, some patients reported feeling less stressed while attending yoga classes. Physically, stress in the body was also reduced with lower blood cortisol levels. Cortisol is believed to cause cancer to progress.

Yoga may also reduce the anxiety level cancer patients have during treatment. The breathing practices and centering activities play an important role.

The benefits of yoga improve the quality of life for cancer patients by relieving symptoms. Yoga is not a form of cancer treatment. Patients should not participate in classes to replace the treatment plan prescribed by their oncologist. Rather, yoga is integrated with treatment to help patients cope with the symptoms.